Mechanisms of Immune Tolerance to Food Antigens in Humans

Immune responses and the mechanisms of tolerance to the common dietary antigens bovine gamma globulin (BGG), ovalbumin (OVA), and soybean protein were evaluated in normal human volunteers. Humoral and T cell proliferative responses to these antigens were measurable but low, consistent with immune to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2001-11, Vol.101 (2), p.158-168
Main Authors: Zivny, J.H., Moldoveanu, Z., Vu, H.L., Russell, M.W., Mestecky, J., Elson, C.O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
anergy
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Communication
Female
food antigens
Food Hypersensitivity - immunology
Food Hypersensitivity - therapy
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundamental immunology
Humans
Immune Tolerance
Immunobiology
Immunoglobulin A, Secretory - biosynthesis
Immunological tolerance
interleukin-2
Interleukin-2 - genetics
Interleukin-2 - pharmacology
Lymphocyte Activation
Male
Middle Aged
oral tolerance
Receptors, Interleukin-2 - genetics
RNA, Messenger - analysis
Saliva - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - immunology
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Summary:Immune responses and the mechanisms of tolerance to the common dietary antigens bovine gamma globulin (BGG), ovalbumin (OVA), and soybean protein were evaluated in normal human volunteers. Humoral and T cell proliferative responses to these antigens were measurable but low, consistent with immune tolerance. There were limited correlations between responses in the systemic and mucosal compartments, and in general the responses to one dietary antigen could not predict the response to another. T cell proliferation to dietary antigens increased significantly by addition of recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhuIL-2). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with BGG or OVA expressed IL-2Rα chain but not IL-2 mRNA, consistent with T cell anergy. Incubation with exogenous IL-2 alone did not restore T cell proliferation to BGG or OVA. In some individuals T cell proliferation to an unrelated vaccine antigen was suppressed by addition of BGG or OVA, but could be reversed with low doses of rhuIL-2. We conclude that in humans anergy is the major mechanism of tolerance to chronic antigen feeding, and we propose that such anergic, antigen-specific T cells actively contribute to maintenance of homeostasis in the intestine in the face of massive antigen challenge.
ISSN:1521-6616
1521-7035
DOI:10.1006/clim.2001.5103